Veteran Stories

In 2011, it is important to consider who are Canada's veterans:

In Canada, a veteran is anyone who served in uniform in Canada’s military. Of the remaining 170,000 Second World War veterans, about 1,700 are passing away each month. This is the fact the minister and the bureaucracy want Canadians to hear — it justifies their planned cuts to Veterans Affairs Canada, mandated to care for veterans and their families.

There also are more than 680,000 veteran and current members of the Canadian Forces who never served in the Second World War, almost 10 per cent of whom are disabled. Veterans Affairs is also mandated to care for families. With more than 7,500 new CF members last year and almost 5,300 others becoming veterans, when their families are taken into account, these numbers balance out the loss of our Second World War veterans. At current rates, in approximately six years time, the number of veterans and families will be growing at least 15,000 but maybe as high 20,000 annually.

The SISIP claw back had a real impact on the quality of life for Canada's disabled veterans and their families. The Government's claw back led to bankruptcies, foreclosures, and feelings of abandonment for our disabled veterans. In 2012, the Federal Court of Canada ruled that the Government of Canada acted illegally in making deductions from veterans' long term disability benefits.

Danis's story:

"Here is my story, in 1999 I was dignosed with PTSD, after numerous pain and suffering I was Medically released from the Forces in 2002, I did get anything from SISIP has my VAC pension and military service was more then they had to offer, while in the military I was well taking care of, trouble start when you get out, you are face with the challange of finding your own doctor and specialist to car…" [Read More]

Robert 's story:

"My fellow Veterans...I am the Robert who believes SISIP is no more than a loan and I thank you for posting my thoughts.

It goes further...Last month I received a letter from SISIP telling me that my overpayment, what they call it, has now been repaid. I repaid them the portion that I believed related to me when I got my DVA pension way back, but refused to repay the benefit portion paid to my c…" [Read More]

Andrew's story:

"I was released ten years ago, and had to fight DVA seven of those ten years. When I won my case I was so happy, until SISIP wanted all of my retroactive payment and was going to reduce my monthly payment. I have never really recovered mentally or financially from it. This ruling has given me some hope again. But as I have come to know, hopes can be crushed in a heart beat. Thank you for fighting a…" [Read More]

Brian's story:

"I was medically released from the CF in 2004 for PTSD from my tour in Bosnia 1992-93. I started recieving VA pension as well as SISIP LTD in 2004.
I just finished paying off SISIP an over-payment of $6,406.01 becuase I recieved a increase in my VA Pension. I just started recieving CPP_Disabilty and had to pay another over-payment of $8,888.00 to SISIP.

Peter's story:

"I was medically released from the military in 2003 and had paid in SISIP LTD. I was under the impression that they would top up my income to equal 75% of my pay upon release. But when I started receiving a pension from VAC and cut me off then sent me a letter telling me that I owed them over $300. What an insult and a slap in the face. All the LTD premiums I paid and for what? "